Very happy to see you hosting again, Kendra.  I loved the charisma discussion that you hosted previously.

You mentioned personal and professional growth...  In my day job (not GCU) I interview a lot of applicants.  The vast majority of them will be happy to tell you that they are "lifelong learners" but I've found that many don't have actual examples of what they are doing to advance their learning (I think many view it as one of those terms that simply sounds good during an interview).  When looking in the mirror, I personally see someone who maintains a strict focus on professional growth, but fails to maintain a consistent focus on the personal side.  I need to do some thinking on that topic and how I might address it.

Regarding goals, I just started a very interesting book called The 4 Disciplines of Execution.  One of its key concepts is that we tend to have far too many goals, and that this causes a reduction in focus (the law of diminishing returns applies).  The authors encourage us to consider one or two Wildly Important Goals (WIGs) to keep squarely in the forefront of our attention.  Again, I'm just getting started, but it's proven to be an interesting read so far.

Looking forward to this discussion!

Hi Vince,

Happy New Year!

Thank you for the compliment, it is great to be back! I have some in-depth discussions in store so fasten your seatbelt. I think this is a year for growth and transparency. We can no longer be comfortable if we plan to grow. The only way to grow is to be comfortable through our own discomfort. I believe this is a new season and in order to really move forward, we have to be open to what we truly see in our image. We have to understand that awareness is the first step with change. We can all use some change and improvement in our lives somewhere. How we see ourselves contributes to the power of change we agree to make. We will not change anything, unless we are open to doing so.

You made a great point and I thought of the statement, "A jack of all trades, and a master of none". Yes, we can have too many goals which is a distraction in itself. How can we ever work through our goals, if we are unsure where to start? We can have too many things going in our lives to even clear out the clutter in one area. Having 2-3 goals for yourself is so important. They have to be realistic and they have to be desired. Execution is always the most challenging step to get to, which is why businesses and projects tend to fail. It is execution where individuals tend to stop. The discipline throughout the entire process is always the most challenging.

So where do we begin? First, let's look at our own image. I agree, this is an area that requires much thought and time. You may need to write down some thoughts, reflect on some ideas and feelings, and create your own realm of honesty. If you begin to feel some discomfort...you've began your journey.

FAB faculty:

We are in a profession that requires continuous growth. Our beliefs are important. Personal and professional growth are essential. How can we connect our beliefs to our growth? First, we must look at our own mirror, and dissect our own image. People on the outside see what we want them to see. It is us who truly knows what lies beneath. 

Who are we? What do we want? Where do we plan to go? Do we believe we can get there?

For this week, what are 3 goals you have made for yourself? Be sure to include a personal and professional element. 

Who are you?

I can't wait to hear what you have to share! Let's grow together for the new year!

Dr. K 

OK FAB friends,

We should all be somewhat into the swing of things by now. Have you identified a key professional goal for yourself? I know that this is a lot to grasp, especially since we have had such a long and relaxing holiday break. It's almost like we have to regroup and start fresh right?? 

Well, no worries, we still have time to get this done. For this month, it is all about self-efficacy and I plan to be quite patient this month.

I will begin with ME. I am at my best when I feel competent and I feel as though I know for a fact that I will do a great job. Typically I feel this way with tasks that I am used to doing and have somewhat mastered. I feel competent in my role as a member of faculty. I understand my profession. I have years of counseling expertise, so I am comfortable. There are areas that I need to polish and so I do, through webinars and other professional development opportunities. I believe that even when we are most comfortable, we can still learn something new or activate a new skill we haven't used in a while. Even as a parent to young children, I am constantly learning new ways to get through a typical day. Each day is always different and you never know what to expect. Expect nothing and be open to everything, rule out accordingly. Flexibility is key.

As you think about your own own goals, what maybe hindering you as you pursue yours? Be honest with yourself. Next week we will discuss some those barriers, and I believe I have quite a few of my own. As I look in my mirror, I will reflect on what I truly see. 

Will you? Think about it...

Dr. K

Hi Dr. K,

Thank you for leading this discussion. Self-efficacy can be a challenging concept to explore yet very beneficial.  I would agree that when I am in my “comfort zone” I feel more competent and successful. Since I have recently moved to Arizona and changed career directions I have found myself feeling a bit uncomfortable and displaced. This year I have two professional goals. One is to be comfortable with the courses that I am teaching. This will build my confidence level and sense of competency. The other is to be involved in the GCU community and culture. I think the main obstacle that is hindering my progress is fear. It has been a while since I have been out of my comfort zone so the fear of failing has been knocking at my door. I agree that flexibility is key to overcoming barriers and while I consider myself a fairly flexible person I seem to have little grace for myself.  I am excited about what this year will bring my way and am excited to be on this journey.

Best regards,

LaVonne

Hi Dr. K!  

Always happy to engage your discussions!  I would say you are right that we have to be willing to step out of our comfort zone to continue to grow professionally and personally. A few goals I have for myself professionally are to engage in more research.  I enjoy research but find I put it aside too often.  I would also like to take part in more conference presentations.  I enjoy the presentations but really dislike conferences so it is a struggle to get motivated to go.  I would also like to use more videos and lectures for my classes to try to engage with my students.  

I think people are unlikely to change until the pain of staying the same becomes worse than the pain of change.  However, if we want to continue to grow, we must be willing to weather the discomfort of change.

Thanks for this topic!

Terri Lucas

Happy New Year!

Do you draw off of the works of Bandura concerning self-efficacy? 

Thank you Dr. K for offering the 4 ways to increase self efficacy.  I was talking with a friend/colleague today about her desire to grow in her career.  She is struggling as she "somewhat recently" moved from another state (1.5 years), into a similar position as nurse stroke coordinator, but with a new type of employer.  She does not see the great impact she is having in her new position despite the mirror we tried to show her of the great works she has implemented.  

We unwittingly used the the four techniques you mention here, discussed her active work towards gaining mastery (she felt she was a previous master, but now she retains the same knowledge but needs to apply to the current situation); we tried to verbally persuade her to understand the impact she has. She inquired how she develop more mastery in her position  (as her manager, I offered to model this for her and mentor her to the specifics of our city and how to reach out to others in the region), this brought on the last tenant - her re-engage/excitement of her role.

She was down on herself when we started, and she was re-energized at the end of the conversation. 

Best,

Deborah

Happy New Year!

Having the ability to participate in this discussion and being a new adjunct faculty member is the tip of the iceberg if you will for one of my professional goals. I am working toward moving out of k-12 public school Special Education and into teaching more or entirely at the University level. A second professional/educational goal I hold for myself is publication, however there I run into a bit of a snafoo because I am unclear on how to even actively and effectively move toward that goal. I do have a 3rd multi-faceted personal goal as well. 

In relation to the 4 ways to increase self-efficacy, I have found they are much more easily applicable in professional settings for me personally, though I can recount many instances where I have unknowingly utilized them to help or support others both professionally and personally. I am very much looking forward to this contiuned discussion and exploration.

Angela

Hi Lavonne,

I appreciate your honesty and I can definitely relate to that. Anytime that I find myself in a new environment, fear tends to set in. I tell myself "faith and fear do not go together". I make it a point to stay prepared, and I always learn as much as I can so that I don't feel lost or overwhelmed. Being in a new environment can be stressful, but it's so worth it to take the risk. I commend you on taking that risk and working through those feelings of discomfort. When we're on our way to our goal, the 'in the meantime' moments can get discouraging and we may find ourselves questioning our own abilities. Sometimes, those are abilities that we know that we have and know that we trust, but somehow, uncertainty still resides. 

So we know it is normal to feel that way, that is truth. We also know that it boils down to our own beliefs and our own perceptions about ourselves. Sometimes we become the barrier of our own progress, due to fear. When fear sets in, we become stagnate. We have to really look at where the fear resides, is it fear of rejection or judgment, or fear of failure? Wherever the fear lies, that is what we must target. When dealing with the fear of others, I tell myself, "What other people think of you, is none of your business". "Trust who you are and know whose you are." Positive affirmations are always great techniques and reminders of our individual worth. 

The more familiar we are, the more competent we become. Each day you teach your courses, you become better. Finding your place in the community and culture at GCU will bring forth a sense of comfort as well. It is important to feel safe and secure in your working environment. When you feel safe, you can be yourself. When we all feel like that within our community, our sense of culture is strengthened. It really is about being clear about who we are, and being confident in that.

What are some other ways that we can feel more confident about who we are as we continue to grow? What are some things that we can do? If you have other thoughts about this topic as you reflect on our discussion, please share with the group!

Great discussion Lavonne!

Dr. K

Hey Dr. Lucas,

It's great to see you! Research is so important especially in higher education. The more tasks we have, the less time we have available to do research. Aside from our families and the daily tasks of our profession, our time becomes extremely limited. Time-management and finding that hole of time can help get us there. We have both completed research last year, and we were able to find the time and the commitment. Let's explore why we found the time and how. According to Bandura (1990, 2012), an individual's self-efficacy allows them to influence their social environment through their beliefs about what they can achieve. If we truly believe we can do it, we will. We will also attempt to do something, we believe we can do. That also goes for research so it's not that we can't do it, it's about finding the time to do so. I love facilitating and doing presentations. I think for me, finding time is still difficult to do, but I am more apt to finding the time to do it and get it done. We really have to be honest with ourselves about what we like and what we don't like to do. If we don't like to do it and we don't have to do it, just don't do it. If conferences aren't your thing, it's OK, do something else. The things we enjoy doing, don't take much motivation or effort at all. It's about what we enjoy and what we are willing to do as well.  

You make a good point, when the pain becomes too great of a pain, we force ourselves to change. Timing is everything and when we are 'sick and tired of being sick and tired', we demand change because we can no longer be 'sick and tired'. At this point, we're just too tired! We have to be ready for change and commit ourselves to the process. We really have to be honest about the task and determine if we really want it. 

When we believe that we can achieve it, we will. When we believe we will achieve it, we do. Just think about it, we have already achieved the things we really wanted, for example, pursuing a higher degree. Doing this is not for everyone, but we knew that it was for us.

Believe you can achieve...and you will!

Great conversation Dr. Lucas! If you have further points of views, chime in! Thank you for your participation!

Dr. K 

Hi Ronald,

Happy New Year indeed! I am hopeful that this will be a new year with new paths to explore and conquer! Yes, Bandura has many works surrounding the concept of self-efficacy. Self-efficacy in itself is a fascinating term, but it covers so many other areas of life. Self-efficacy is an all encompassing term that covers self-efficacy in many different contexts including cognitive, health, clinical, athletic, and organizational functioning (Bandura, 1997). This concept has been researched and studied for many years. I have an interest because I believe in the greater power that we all have within...our thoughts/beliefs, which determine our actions. 

There have been many discussions I have been a part of that explore why some people succeed and why others do not. I have to always question, how success is defined in their own eyes? Success is not just about wealth, it is also about passion, and doing something that you truly enjoy doing. It is said 'If you are doing something that you love to do, you will never have to work a day in your life'. I agree with that...do you? If so, why?

Our beliefs and our perceptions are so important. We truly have to believe in ourselves and the goals that we have connected ourselves to so that we can achieve them and feel as if we have succeeded in life. As we get older, reflecting on the joys of our decisions ultimately decides whether or not we feel satisfied with how we have lived.

What are your thoughts on self-efficacy? Do you think this term is diverse in who we are and how we live? Is it a deeper concept than what we think? Let me know your thoughts!

Thank you for your participation!

Dr. K

Hi Deborah,

Happy New Year to you and good to 'see' you! Isn't it amazing the impact relocation can have on us? I relocated from another city as well, and I remember feeling displaced and disconnected from my security blanket. Even though I exhibited the same skills that I had in my prior city, I had to reconnect with those same skills and had to redefine who I was. Validation comes from those we trust and feel safe around. When we lose that, we have to believe and validate ourselves. 

Starting over can be challenging, and it sounds like that was a difficult space for her. Self-efficacy can impact our cognitive abilities and emotional capabilities as well. Until she was able to see what was already there, she would never reconnect with it. Her ability was there all along, she never lost it, she just had to reactivate it and find that space to do so. Timing is everything. Our beliefs can be affected by situations we are going through at the time, past traumas, or even presenting issues that need to still be resolved. Creating that space that solidifies our belief is exactly the space we need to dwell in. Positive energy can enhance our beliefs, just as toxic, negativity will. Keeping ourselves safe and in positive places can definitely make a difference in how we achieve our goals and how we view our mirror. 

I commend you for 'sticking' with her. She needed that support to help re-energize what had been there all along.

How did this experience impact you? Did it enhance your own self-efficacy as being a leader and having a leadership role? Think about it...

Good conversation Deborah! Thank you for chiming in!

Dr. K

Hi Angela,

Happy New Year to you too! Welcome to GCU! I began as an adjunct faculty member as well and I remember wanting to learn as much as I can. I surrounded myself with people that could support me during this 'new' chapter, I had a mentor since I was working on campus a lot at the time, and I would dive into content that would help enhance my understanding so I felt comfortable teaching it. It was definitely a learning experience, and continues to be. Professional development is very important especially because growing and learning is such a continuum. I think you are well on your way. Connecting to the GCU community is important. You want to familiarize yourself with the culture and what we have available for faculty. It takes believing in yourself to adjust to a new environment, new patterns of behavior, and new people. I would browse around CIRT (this site here) and explore opportunities for research. There are always opportunities to conduct presentations, attend seminars, or participate in conferences. Staying connected both inside and outside of the community is key. If you have organizations in your profession, look into those as well. 

It is nice when you can look in your mirror with expectation and excitement! It sounds like you are already there. You seem like you are in a safe space. You will only grow from there. Keep moving forward...the sky is the limit...and so is your mirror.

What other ways do you believe could be helpful as you grow in your new professional role? Is there anything that you feel you need from GCU to be more successful? 

Let us know! Thank you for your participation Angela! I'm so glad all is well so far.

Dr. K

Happy Wednesday everyone!

Here is an interesting comparison between low self-efficacy and high self-efficacy. 

Where do you fall on the spectrum?

It is so important to know where we are in our confidence, especially as it pertains to our professional role. What areas do we really need to focus on moving forward?

Growth comes from our own awareness and honesty. When we plan to grow forward, we have to make sure we are prepared in doing so. 

If you had to choose one, either low self-efficacy overall, or high self-efficacy, where would you place yourself? Depending on the task it will be different, but overall, reflecting on the choices that you tend to make and where you are in your life. If you want to do something, will you? Do you know how and where to tap into your own level of confidence? Think about it...

Seize the day and make it a great one!

Dr. K

Hello FAB faculty!

As we continue to explore the areas in need of self-efficacy and where we fall on our spectrums, this scale above is a great start in helping us to look deeper into our own thoughts and patterns of behavior. Whatever goal you have chosen for yourself as an area where your self-efficacy can be enhanced, use that specific goal in reference to the scale above. You can use a Likert scale, with a range of 1-5 with 1 being the least agreed and 5 being the most agreed.

Review the numbered items above and rate each item between 1-5. See where you lie and those areas in which you rated the lowest, those are the areas of focus for the rest of this week. It is important that we assess the areas in our lives that need more attention. You never know, we could be keeping our own self stagnate by our own thoughts, and not even know it. Self-awareness and self-discovery are key!

Next week we will look into the barriers that keep our self-efficacy in those areas low. Assess yourself and explore the results. This is a great first step.

Enjoy!

Dr. K